Flush profiled expansion element

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a profiled expansion element for floor or wall panels as well as an associated laying method wherein on the one hand the expansion join is integrated as well as possible into the floor covering and on the other hand the laying of the expansion join is simple.

The present invention relates to a profiled expansion element for flooror wall panels as well as an associated laying method. During thesubstantially area-wide laying of panels which are made from woodmaterials such as laminate, parquet and so on, it is necessary toprovide expansion joins due to the not avoidable changes in dimensioningdue to swelling und shrinking during absorbing and discharging ofhumidity. For example, panels are laid in such a manner that they arenot abutting on the adjacent wall respective on the floor and a slot forthe remaining extension. At the edge this slot can be coveredrespectively closed with cover strips and/or elastic filling materialssuch as silicon most comparatively without any problems. The situationat door-passages or in the central area of the laid surface areapresents different. For example, for floor laying it is proposed toprovide an expansion join after latest 8 to 12 meter so that anextension is possible at all due to the occurred weights and frictionforces. Thus, on the one hand, it is the object to design an expansionjoin in that manner that said expansion join is integrated as well aspossible into the floor covering so that on the one hand said expansionjoin does not disturb as possible and on the other hand to provide thelaying of the expansion join as simple as possible.

A well known, profiled expansion element system is provided in a twopart form and is mounted in the slot between the opposed edges of twofloor or wall panels. For this purpose, a first element is mounted atthe opened underground in the slot i.e. at the wall or the floor whileit is doweled or glued there. Then, a further cover element is mounted,for example with a clip connection onto the first element and it isdesigned in such a manner that it has a cover surface supported onto oneof the two panels which covers the slot. This cover element has, forexample a T-shaped cross section.

Thereby, that the upper cover surface is supported onto the panels thecover element disadvantageously protrudes above the flat which is builtby the panels. This disturbs not only the visual impression of the laidpanels, but also this can built for a floor covering unfavorable stumbleedge and humidity can easily reach under the cover surface and so to thepanel itself. In addition, the mounting of the panels onto theunderground in the slot is disadvantageous to that effect that duringthe doweling comparative extensive holes have to be drilled during thatit could be come to damages of wires or pipes, for example of a floorheating system or that depending on the underground the cluing can bringalong adhesion problems or it is difficult to remove during removing thefloor or wall covering. As a result, that the known profiled expansionelement is not mounted onto the floor respective onto the wall coveringit comes to a disadvantageous detach of the cover element from the floorrespective from the wall covering during a detachment of the mounting,whereby damages, for example to parquet or laminate may occur.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide animproved expansion element wherein its mounting is improved and whichcan be better incorporated from its design into a floor or wallcovering. An improved laying method is the subject matter of a furtherindependent claim. Advantageous embodiments result from the dependentclaims.

The present invention relates to an expansion element for an arrangementbasically between two opposite distanced edges of floor or wall panelsin particular of floor or wall panels which are at least partiallycomposed of wood materials like MDF, HDF or chips. An example thereforeare so called laminate panels. The expansion element according to theinvention has at least two profiled elements. The floor and wallprofiles are arranged with distance in such a manner that without thearrangement of the expansion element they build a slot which builds aspace for potential expansions of the floor respective wall panel.

The expansion element has means for mounting the respective profiledelement at the respective floor or wall profile. Thereby, advantageouslythe mounting in the slot between the floor respective wall panel isomitted. For example, the underground has not to be disadvantageouslydrilled with the risk that damages of wires respective pipes occur, forexample of the floor heating system. Further, a gluing with a possiblenot sufficient adhesion and potential glue rests when removing theexpansion element respective the floor covering respective wall coveringis omitted. Further, through the direct mounting at the wall respectivefloor panel the laying of the expansion element is simplified andaccelerated in comparison with the state of the art. Thereby, that theexpansion element is mounted at the panels the risk is omitted that,because of removing the expansion element from the underground, arelative movement between profile and floor respective wall panel, forexample while stepping onto the profile and therefore damaging the panelappears.

The profiled elements are provided in such a manner that in theaforementioned arrangement said profiled elements are at least partiallyslidable against each other along a direction which is perpendicular tothe edges. Therefore, it is achieved that the expanding element is extraeffectively able to compensate possible changes in dimensioning, forexample by panels which consist of wood material due to swelling andshrinking during absorbing and discharging of humidity.

The profile, according to the invention, is extra flexibly applicableand adoptable to many slot dimensions. The necessity to produce andprovide different expansion elements for different slots in order toensure an optimal, i.e. neither to wide reaching covering through theprofile is omitted.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the expansion element is providedin such a manner that it does not overtop the edge of the floor or wallpanel which remotes of the floor respective of the wall. Thereby, it isachieved that stumble edges are avoided.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the expansion element is providedin such a manner that the opened surface of the laying underground andthe herewith joined floor or wall panel top side forms basically aplane. This has to be understood in such a manner that the expansionelement in laid condition builds a plane with the respective panels.Thereby, the “plane” is not interpreted close and comprises providedprotrusions respective cavities, for example in view of stabilityreasons. With such a basically flush-positioned expanding element aproper junction between the floor respective wall panel surfaces whichare separated by a slot is provided. Thereby, dirt and dust gatheringsat the edges are avoided and in this way an optimal integration into thefloor respective the wall covering is reached.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the profiled elements aredetachable joined with each others. Thereby, it is achieved that theindividual elements are independently mountable in separated conditionsof each other at the respective wall respective floor panel and canjoined later during the laying. Thereby, the laying can happen extraquickly.

In a further advantageous embodiment, one of the profiled elements isprovided with a tongue and the other profiled element with a groovewherein the groove cooperates together with the tongue in order toachieve the slidability of the profiled elements. Thereby, on the onehand the slidability and on the other hand a dustproof join between theelements is extra simply achieved.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the means for mountingthe respective profiled elements on the respective floor or wall profilecorrespond to the mounting means on the edges of the floor or wallpanels. With this compatibility of the means for mounting on theprofiled elements with the mounting means which act between the panels,the extension element can be mounted in particular quick and simplewithout further means.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, means for limiting ofthe slidability of the profiled elements are provided. Thereby, it canbe prevented that during the assembling the profiled elements will bepulled apart too far. For example, the tongue which is provided betweenthe profiled elements for sliding is provided with a protrusion whichabuts upon a stopper during pulling out of the groove of the furtherprofiled element and thus limits the slidability or prevents a pullingout too far in order to avoid that the tongue will be pulled out of thegroove. For example, the means for limiting are provided in such amanner that there limit the slidability, but through a pulling apartwith an expenditure of force, which is clear over the quantity which isneeded for the sliding, the limiting effect of the means can beovercome, for example by a springy deflection, and so the profiledelements can be separated.

In an advantageous embodiment of an extension element according to theinvention, the means for mounting comprise at least one grooverespective tongue For example, the panels have at one edge a groove andat the opposite edge a tongue. Thus, a profiled element has a groove forreceiving the tongue of a panel. Thus, the further profiled element hasa tongue, which cooperates together with the groove of a panel. Thereby,a particular simple and with the panel flush join between the panel andthe expansion element is achieved.

The means for mounting comprise in a further advantageous embodimentalso latching elements. For example, the latching elements are providedin the form of rills and nose edge therein interacting in a snappingmanner. Thereby, a particular safe, effective, and as possible liquidproofed join between the panel and the respective profiled element isachieved. For example, the groove of one profiled element has at thebottom side, therefore, at the side which is arranged to theunderground, a protruding shoulder which is provided with a nose edgewhich is oriented to the top side, therefore, to the side which isopposite to the underground. This snaps in, for example in a rill whichis open to the bottom side at the tongue of a panel which is arranged tothe bottom side.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the means for mounting of therespective profiled element at the respective floor or wall profile areprovided in such a manner that by pivoting the profiled elementrespective the floor or wall panel a mounting between the respectiveprofiled element and floor respective wall panel is achieved. Thereby,an assembling of the expansion element can be achieved particular simplyand quickly. Thereby, it has shown that compare to the aforementioneddescribed state of the art expansion element the expenditure of time forassembling can be reduced up to 97%.

Suchlike mounting means with latching elements which are latched throughpivoting arise, for example from the patent EP 1282752 and are thesubject matter of the present application by way of reference.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the profiled elementsconsist of wood material like MDF or HDF. Thereby, at the one side, theprofile can be produced comparatively inexpensive. At the other side,thus, it is sufficiently flexion elastic.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the expansion elementconsists at least partially of metal. Thereby, a durableness of theprofile is achieved. For example, aluminum is used because while layingit is comparably simple to handle and further due to the comparable lowweight storing and transporting is easier. In a further embodiment onlythe side which is opposite to the floor or wall, i.e. at the uppersurface of the profile, a metal coating is provided. Thereby, theexpansion element is particular durableness at step area. In order toprevent a slipping onto the profile it can be provided with rills.

In the laying method for an expansion element according to theinvention, in a first step a pre-laid floor or wall panel is joined witha first profiled element of an expansion element according to one of thepreceding described embodiments. In a second step the first profiledelement is joined with the second profiled element. In a third step afloor or wall panel is joined with the second profiled element. Throughthis procedure an expansion element can be particular quickly assembled.The time-consuming mounting at the underground with its furtherdisadvantages involved like the risk of damaging a wire or a pipe whichis arranged in the floor respective wall is omitted.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laying method for anexpansion element according to the invention, in the first step andthird step the join is achieved by pivoting and linking of linkingelements. Thereby, a particular time-saving assembling of the expansionelement is achieved.

A further advantageous embodiment of the laying method includes that inan intermediate step afore the third step a spacer is at least partiallyinserted between the profiled elements in order to temporarily prevent amovement of the profiled elements at least in direction of a closerspacing of the profiled elements by the further laying. Thereby, it canbe particular simply ensured that during the assembling a distancebetween the edges of opposite floor respective wall panels remains whichis sufficient to enable an effective expansion compensation throughmovement of the profiled elements into each other.

With reference to the FIGURES:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the expansion element according to theinvention in a cross section view with respective at the two profiledelement 1, 2 mounted floor panels 3, 4.

The movability of the two profiled elements 1, 2 is achieved through agroove 6 in the profiled element 1 and a with the groove cooperatingtongue 5 in the profiled element 2 while the tongue 5 enters deeper intothe groove 6 and fills out more the cavity 11 during elongation of thepanels 1 or 2. Tongue 5 and groove 6 are provided with cooperatingprotrusions 12, 13 in order to hinder a sliding out of the tongue 5 ofthe groove 6 while expenditure of force which is needed for the movingand which have, for example a high of 1.5 mm. The tongue has, forexample a length of 20 mm and a thickness of 2 mm; the groove is as well20 mm deep. At the two profiled elements 1, 2 respective with mountingmeans 7, 8, 10, 11 floor panels are mounted. The mounting meanscorrespond to the mounting means which are respectively provided betweenthe panels. Thereby, the tongue 8 of the profiled elements provides amounting in the panel in cooperation with the groove 7 in a directionwhich is perpendicular to the joining plane. The profiled element 2 isaccordingly complementary provided and thus has the groove which thetongue of the panels 4 gathers. The mounting means comprise latchingmeans. Thus, at the bottom side, so the side which is oriented to theunderground, the tongue of the profiled element 1 is provided with a tothe underside opened rill in which a to the upper side pointed nose edge9 can be snap in at the lower protruding shoulder of the groove 7 of thepanel 3. In the profiled element 2 the groove of the profiled element 2has at the bottom side, so the side which is oriented to theunderground, a protruding shoulder which is provided with a nose edgewhich points to the upper side, so the side which is opposite to theunderground. It snaps in, for example in a rill which is opened to theunderground at the side which is oriented to the bottom side of thetongue of the panel 4. By the latching a mounting of the profiledelements in the joining plane, perpendicular to the edges of the panelsis achieved. The profiled elements 1 and 2 which, for example haverespective a cross section length L1=L2=43 mm are provided at the upperside in such a manner that a flush positioned joining of the panels 3and 4 is achieved. For this purpose, the for the movement provided joinof groove 6 and tongue 5 on the profiled elements 1 and 2 is arranged asnear to the upper side as possible. For example, the thickness of theshoulder of the groove 6 which is arranged at the upper side has 1.5 mm.The lower shoulder of the groove 6 has, for example a thickness of 3 mmwith a laminate which has a thickness of 8 mm, and 8 mm with a laminatewhich has a thickness of 12 mm.

1. An expansion element (1, 2) which is provided in such a manner thatit can be arranged between two opposite distanced edges of floor or wallpanels composed of wood material (3, 4) wherein the expansion element(1, 2) has two profiled elements, characterized in that means formounting the respective profiled element (1, 2) at the respective flooror wall profile (7, 8) are provided and that the profiled elements (1,2) are provided in such a manner (5, 6) that in the aforementionedarrangement said profiled elements (1, 2) are at least partiallyslidable against each other along a direction which is perpendicular tothe edges wherein the profiled elements (1, 2) are provided in such amanner that the opened surface of the laying underground and theherewith joined floor or wall panel top side forms basically a plane. 2.An expansion element (1, 2) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe expansion element (1, 2) is provided in such a manner that it doesnot overtop the edge of the floor or wall panel which remotes of thefloor respective of the wall.
 3. An expansion element (1, 2) accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the profiled elements (1, 2) aredetachable joined with each others.
 4. An expansion element (1, 2)according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the profiled elements(2) is provided with a tongue (5) and the other profiled element (1)with a groove (6) which cooperates together with the tongue (5) in orderto achieve the slidability of the profiled elements (1, 2).
 5. Anexpansion element (1, 2) according to claim 1, characterized in that themeans for mounting the respective profiled element on a respective flooror wall profile correspond to the mounting means (7, 8) on one of theedges of the floor or wall panel (3, 4).
 6. An expansion element (1, 2)according to claim 1, characterized in that means for limiting theslidability (12, 13) of the profiled elements (1, 2) are provided.
 7. Anexpansion element (1, 2) according to claim 6, characterized in that themeans for mounting comprise at least one tongue respective groove (7,8).
 8. An expansion element (1, 2) according to claim 6, characterizedin that the means for mounting further comprise latching elements (9,10).
 9. An expansion element (1, 2) according to claim 1, characterizedin that the means for mounting the respective profiled element at therespective floor or wall profile (7, 8, 9, 10) are provided in such amanner that by pivoting the profiled element (1, 2) respective the flooror wall panel (3, 4) a mounting between the respective profiled element(1, 2) and floor respective wall panel (3, 4) is achieved.
 10. Anexpansion element (1, 2) according to claim 1, characterized in that theprofiled elements (1, 2) partially or completely consist of a woodmaterial like MDF or HDF.
 11. An expansion element (1, 2) according toclaim 1, characterized in that the profiled element at least partiallyconsists of metal in particular of aluminum.
 12. An expansion element(1, 2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the side whichremotes from the floor or wall is provided with a metal coating.
 13. Alaying method for an expansion element wherein in a first step apre-laid floor or wall panel is joined with a first profiled element ofan expansion element according to claim 1 wherein in a second step thefirst profiled element is joined with the second profiled elementwherein in a third step a floor or wall panel is joined with the secondprofiled element and wherein in the first step and third step the joinis achieved by pivoting and linking of linking elements and whereinafore the third step in an intermediate step a spacer is at leastpartially inserted between the profiled elements in order to temporarilyprevent a movement of the profiled elements at least in direction of acloser spacing of the profiled elements by the further laying.